Means for feeding sheet bars to furnace conveyers



'Sept. 22, 1931. A. L. LARSEN 1,824,742

MEANS FOR FEEDING SHEET BARS T0 FURNACE CONVEYERS Filed July 31, 1930 INVENTOR.

A. LLA RSE/V ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 22, 1931 v UNITED s'ra'r as PATENT OFFICE ARNOLD L. LABSEILOF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR '.I.O SURFACE COMBUSTION CORPORA- TION, 'OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK MEANS roa manure SHEET mas ro' rumuon 00 Application filed July 31, 1980. Serial 1%. 478,084.

which extends over the conveyer, the bars being supported on edge on said table in a backwardly inclined .position whereby to prevent forward topping thereof and means being provided .for pushing the row of bars up the incline of said table in order that the leading bars may be pushed from the table for passage therefrom'to the conveyer or to a bed which cooperates with theconveyer for supporting the bars during the. interval the conveyer is below the plane of said bed.

For a more complete understandin of the invention reference is made to the etailed description and the accompanying drawings,

wherein the'preferredform of the invention is shown.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the improved feeding device in side elevation and how it is positioned with respect to the furnace conveyer, the furnace (.onl a portion of which is shown) beingin vertical section and the operating means for the conveyer being more or less schematically shown. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the feeding device, the view being on an enlarged scale as compared with Fig. 1, the view also showing the stationary and movable mem-' bers which togethermake up the means for moving the bars through the furnace. Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 33'of,Fig. 2.

The furnace may be of any approved type having a longitudinally extendlng heating chamber 10 fired in any suitable manner as by gas burners 11. positioned in the opposite side walls of the chamber and each opposite end of the furnace being provided with relatively restricted openings; 12 for the entry and dischar e of work respectively as will be readilyun erstood'.

Extending longitudinally through the furnace and projecting therefrom through the end openings 12 is work-supporting bed generally indicated at A; this bed comprising a series of laterally spaced longitudinally extending rails 13. The conveyer proper is generall indicated MB and comprises aseries of aterally spaced longitudi-" nally extending rails 14 positioned for movement between. and longitudinally of the rails 13.

The rails 13\ are supported within the heating chamber on a series of piers 15 which are supported on the floor of the heat ing chamber and extend-transversely thereof. The rails 14 are supported on a series of floatin cross beams 16 which in turnare supporter? by upright links or side arms 17 which at their lower ends are pivoted to the cross beams at the extremities thereof and which at their upper ends are pivotally connected to rockers 18 appropriately mounted on a frame workC which encompasses the heating chamber, said rockers being connected by a link 19 whereby all of the rock ers may be operated in unison for the purpose of raising and lowering the side arms 17 for elevating and lowering the conveyer B with respect to the bed A. C I

The rockers 18 are rocked by meanscomprising a cam20, a rocker 21 and a pitman 22 connected'at its opposite 'ends to one of the rockers 18 and to the rocker 21. The conveyer B is/ moved longitudinally by means comprising a cam 23, a rocker-24 and a link 25 appropriately connected at one trative purposes they are shown as mounted on individual shafts driven in unison by a driving chain 26 which in turnis driven by a prime mover 27 of any suitable type.

To provide propersupport-for the projecting end of the conveyer B there is provided means comprising a platform generally indicated at 28 and a rocker 2-9 on an arm of which the platform is supported, the

rocker and underside of the platform being,

shown as below the upper surface of the bed A preparatory to being moved upwardly above the plane of the bed for lifting bars therefrom and moving such bars to the right a distance equal to the longitudinal stroke of the conveyer, the bars being redeposited on the bed as theconveyer descends below the plane of the bed A as will be readily understood. I

The furnace and conveyer mechanism thus far described form no part of the present invention except as the same may be in combination with the feeding device now to be described.

Disposed above the bed A is a structure providing an upwardly and forwardlyinclined platform adapted to form a, support for a row of sheet bars generally indicated at D, it beingnoted that said bars are supported on edge in a backwardly inclined position and consequently there is no tendency for the bars to topple forwardly on their broadsides. The platform is constituted by laterallyspaced tracks 35 at the top of a support 36 which in turn is secured to a base 37' mounted ona foundation 38 at the front of the bed A. Mounted for' travel longitudinally of the tracks 35 is a pusher head generally indicated at 39, it being noted that the row of bars D is prevented from rearward toppling by said head.

As the head moves up the incline it pushes the row of bars in front of it until even tually the leading bar will be pushed from the platform whereupon it will slide down the front end 40 of the support 36 and come to restfon the bed A. As will be'presently explained, means-are provided for temporarily stopping further movement of the pusher head after a bar has been pushed fro-m the platform until such time as the conveyer B has moved the bar last to leave the platform from the foot of the platform support in order that the bars may be uniformly spaced lengthwise'of the bed A. In Fig. 1, two bars d and a? are shown as resting on the bed A ready to be moved by the conveyer B.

In order to provide suitable support for =66 the projecting'endof the bed A, the ends of the rails 13 comprising said bed may be supported on the base 37 as shownin Fig. 1.

It 'may-be' noted that the bars pushed from I a the platform 35 do not strike the conveyer .B but on the contrary the impact is taken by bed A. a

The means for moving'the pusher head 39 may be of any preferred form. As shown there is provided a prime mover 41 shown as an electric motor adapted to drive'a screw 42 which extends through the pusher head below the tracks 35, appropriate driving connections being provided between said motor and screw, means also being provided for retracting the head after it has reached its forward limit of movement.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the head 39 is provided with a downwardly extending portion 43 wherethrough the screw 42 passes and a laterally extending projection 44 at the ends of which rollers 45 are mounted, these rollers being adapted to ride on tracks or runways 46 formed on the support 36. Upward displacement of the head is prevented by rollers 47 carried by the sides of the head and engaging beneath flange tracks 48 on the support 36.

The screw 42 is supported against longitudinal displacement by bearings 49 and 50 formed intermediate the ends of transverse struts 51 and 52 respectively, extending between the side walls of the support 36. The

bar engaging side of the head 39 is preferably of the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, that is to say, it is provided with a plurality of projections 53 which are vertically cored as at 54 whereby to lighten the head.

Any suitable means may be provided for retracting the head 39 from its forward limit of movement. As shown there is provided on the side of the head a lug 55 adapted to shift a reversing rod 56 by striking an upstanding arm 57 al the forward end thereof, this rod serving to operate a clutch element 58 on a shaft 59 which drives the screw 42 in one direction and to throw a gear 60 on the line shaft 4 into driving relation with a gear 61 on a countershaft 62 which in turn drives'the screw 42 in a reverse direction through any suitable mechanism 62. When the head reaches the rearward limit of its movement the lug 55 strikes an upstanding arm 63 on the rod 56 whereupon gear 60 is disengaged from gear 61 and the clutch element 58 thrown in whereupon the head is ready to be moved forwardly. It will, of course, be understood that the head is retracted relatively rapidly and that it moves forwardly relatively slowly. It is preferred 'to stop the motor after the head has been retracted and this may be accomplished by causing the head to actuate a stopping switch generally indicated at 64. It will, of course, be understood that various means may be employed for causing movement of the head in the manner indicated and the meansshown is, therefore, to be taken as merely illustrative of any suitable means for that purpose. r

It will, of course, be understood that after 55 upwardly and forwardly with respect to said the pusher head has been retracted a new row or supply 'of sheet barswill be placed on the loading table or tracks .35 and that thereafter the motor 41 may again be started to permit the head to move forwardly.

It is desirable that forward movement of the pusher be stopped for an interval determined by the movement of the conveyer B after a bar has been pushed from the tracks 35 in order to prevent bars from being pushed off the tracks 35 faster than they can be taken care of by the conveyer B. To this end there is provided a trip member 65 disposed across the path of downward travel of a bar as it leaves the tracks 35, this member serving to actuate any suitable motor circuit controlling mechanism generally indicated at 66. This stopping of the forward movement of the pusher'head allows the conveyer B to rise from below the plane of the, bed A to lift the bars therefrom and to move them longi-- tudinally of the bed the limit of the conveyer stroke and redeposit the bars on the bed by descending below the 'plane'thereof. In order to again start the forward movement of the pusher head in order that anew bar. may be pushed from the tracks 35 and deposited on the bed A while ,the conveyer is below the. plane of the bed, there is provided a trip mechanism 67 adapted to be actuated by the conveyer in its de'- scendingmovement, this trip mechanism adapted to actuate the motor circuit controllingmechanism 66 to start the motor. The shaft on which the trip arm is mounted is indicated at 68, this shaft having a crank from which extends a, link 69 connectedto a crank arm 70 on the shaft 71 to which the trip arm 65 is secured. It may be noted that the trip arm 67 is shown as adapted to be actuated by a projection 72 extending laterally from the platform 28 below the conveyer B. It will, of course, be appreciated thatboth trip mechanisms 65 and 67 are schematically illustrated and may be of any suitable form, the. mainessential being that the feeding. of the bars from the table 35 shall be so controlled as not to-permit bars to be piled up onthe bed Afaster than the conveyer can take care of them properly. What is claimed is: 1 1. The combination with a work "bed extending from the charging end of a heating furnace, of a slab supporting table extending v.bed, and means for moving a plurality of slabs up the incline of said table and successively over the edge'thereof for passage .to said bed.

2. The=combination with a work bed extending from the charging end of a heating furnace, ofa'slab supporting table extending upwardly and forwardly with respect to said bed and having its upper end above the level of the bed, a slide way extending downwardly and forwardly from the upper end of said table whereby slabs discharged from said table may move down said slide way to said bed, means for movin a plurality of slabs up the incline of said table and successively over the edge thereof for passage to said bed, and a conveyer for moving the slabs received on said bed into the furnace.

3. The combination with a work bed extending from the charging end of a heating furnace, of a slabsupporting table extending upwardly and forwardly with respect to said bed and having its upper end above the .level of the bed, a slide way extending rality of slabs up the incline of said table and successively over the edge thereof for passage to said bed, a'conveyer for moving the slabs received on said bed into the furnace, and means controlled by said conveyer for controlling the discharge of slabs from said table.

4. The combination with a work bed extending from the charging end of a heating furnace, of a slab supporting table extending upwardly and forwardly with respect to said bed and having its upper endabove the 'level of the bed,-'a slide way extending downwardly and forwardly from "the upper end of said table whereby slabs discharged from said table may move down said slide way to said bed, means for moving a plurality of slabs up the incline of said table and successively over the edge thereof for passage to said bed, and means controlled bythe passageof a slab down said slide way for stopping further advance of said meafis- 5. The combination 'witha work bed extending'from the charging. end of a heating furnace, of a slab supporting table extending upwardly and forwardly with re spect to said bed and having itsupper end above the level of the bed, a slide way extending downwardly and forwardly from theupper end of said table whereby slabs discharged from said table may move down said slide way. to said bed, means for moving a pluralityof slabs up the incline of said table and successively over the edge thereof for passage to said bed, and a conveyer movable vertically and horizontally with respect to said bed for moving the slabs received on the bed into the furnace.

' 6. The combination with a work bed leading into a heating furnace,

depositing slabs on said bed of a paratus for rom a level thereabove comprising, a table extending upwardly and forwardly with respect. to

.said bed and having its edge terminating thereover, a head extending upwardly from said table and adapted to prevent rearward toppling of the slabs supported on their edges on the table, and means for moving said head to push the slabs up the incline of said table and successively over the edge thereof.

7 The combination with a work bed extending from a heating furnace and a ver .tically and horizontally movable frame assoassume a backward incline, means for pushsuccessively over the edge thereof,

after being pushed over the table edge being work pushing means in sue preventing bars loaded on ing the workup the incline of said table and the work free to move into'position on said bed, and means controlled by the movement of said frame for controlling the operation of said a manner that the work will be deposited on said bed while said frame is below the level thereof.

8. The combination with a work bed and conveyer leading into a heating furnace, of means for feeding sheet bars one by one to the bed for passage into the furnace comprising a loading table arranged at such angle with respect to said conveyer that sheet bars arranged on edge on said table will have a backward incline, the upper edge of said table being over said conveyer, and means for pushing the inclined bars up the table incline and successively over the edge thereof.

- a 9. The combination with a conveyer leading into a furnace, of means for automatically feeding sheet bars to'said conveyer comprising a forwardly and upwardly extending loading table, a. pusher'head for said table from rearward toppling, means for. ropelling the pusher head to ush the bars 0 the table, an inclined track own which the bars can slide as they leave said table, means actuated by said conveyer for startin the propelling means, andmeans actuate by' the bar as it travels down said track for stopping said propelling means.

10. In combination, into a furnace, a conve er associated with said bed for moving wor therealong, a table extending forwardly and upwardly over said bed, and means for pushing work up the incline of the bed and beyond the edge thereof.

11. Means for feeding relatively thin and wide metal slabs to a conveyer comprising a table positioned over the conveyer and extending at such angle with respect thereto that slabs positioned on the table with their broad sides perpendicular thereto will be baekwardly inclined with respect to a. vertical plane, and means movable longitudinally of said table for supporting the slabs from rearward toppling and for pushing the slabs beyond the edge of the table.

12. In a device for feeding relatively thin and wide metal slabs to a furnace, the combination of a conveyer for moving the slabs into the furnace, means for supporting a pack of slabs on edge over the outer end of the conveyer in rearwardly and upwardly inclined position to prevent them from toppling forwardly, said means including a pusher behind the pack, and means for advancing'said pusher to push each successive leading slab from said supporting means.

13. In a device for feeding relatively thin and wide metal slabs to a furnace, the combinationof a conveyer for moving the slabs into the furnace, means for supporting a pack of slabs on edge over the outer end of the conveyer, and means controlled by the conveyer for progressively advancing the pack and discharging the slabs one by one on to the conveyer in such timed relation to.

the movement of the conveyer that each slab is delivered to the conveyer after the preceding slab has been moved forwardly far enough not to be overlapped thereby.

14. In combination, a work bed leading into a furnace, a convey er for moving slabs along said bed, a table over the bed, and means controlled by the conveyer for successively pushing each slab from the table 'to move by gravity to said bed only after the preceding slab has been moved out of its way. by said conveyer.

i 15. In combination, a work bed leading into a furnace, a conveyer for moving slabs along said bed, a table over the bed, intermittently operable means for successively pushing. the slabs from the table to move by gravity to said bed, and means controlled by the conveyer for controlling the pusher in such relation to the conveyer that the latter moves each slab forwardly before the succeeding slab is delivered to the conveyer. In testimony whereof I ailix my signature. ARNOLD L. LARSEN.

a work bed leading 

